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Russian emergency services cite ‘planned’ weapons test after explosion alarms Udmurtia residents

Source: Meduza

Residents of Russia’s Republic of Udmurtia posted videos to social media on Wednesday that show a large fire towering into the air following an apparent explosion near the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the regional capital of Izhevsk.

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According to Russian state media, the plant notified the local emergency services office that the explosion was not an accident but the result of weapons testing. “This was a rocket engine test. It’s not an emergency, it was a planned [event],” a representative reportedly said.

The Votkinsk Machine Building Plant produces military equipment (including Iskander-M, Topol-M, Yars, and Bulava missiles) as well as civilian goods.